'Cheshire' Matt Thomas
"I've always loved art, especially anything to do with tattoos. Much of my early, fine art, work was inspired by the tattoos I had observed on others. I obsessed over it and studied art through high school and college.
While in college, I began drawing tattoo flash and selling it around to the local tattoo shops in Akron and Cleveland. Selling Flash, got me my foot in the door and eventually led to my apprenticeship.
I began tattooing tattooing, professionally, in 1993 at Kenmore Studios, in Akron, Ohio. I eventually went on to work at, manage, and 'herd cats' at several other studios in Ohio, Michigan and South Dakota.
During that time, I've met some great artists, clients, and friends, and I'm thankful for every minute of it."